Spark (Legends of the Shifters)

by J. B. North

  “That's fitting. Your mother always called you her little fire flower.” Matilda stood. “Well, I’d better start cooking lunch. Burton will probably come home for it, but even if he doesn’t, I still have to eat.”

  I smiled at her. “Would you like some help?” I asked. I had no idea how to cook, but I could do something simple, like chopping up vegetables. Elna had asked me to do that when she was short on staff.

  Matilda shook her head. “No, I’d better do it. Burton is a picky eater.”

  I had to admit that I was a little disappointed. I could've used the distraction.

  Instead, I sat at the table and twiddled my thumbs until a knock sounded at the door.

  “Come in!” shouted Matilda.

  It was Roland. “I was just wondering if you were done with Ivy,” he said.

  “Oh, yes, yes. I’ll bet the poor girl is bored by now.”

  I smiled. I had too much to think about to be bored, but Roland didn't know that.

  “Would you like to come?” he asked me.

  “Yes, I’ll come,” I answered, standing.

  Before we stepped out, Matilda shouted, “Be back for supper!”

  Roland and I smiled at each other as he shut the door. “So what did Matilda want to talk to you about?” Roland questioned as we walked.

  I shrugged. “Private matters,” I answered. I wasn’t sure how much he knew, and I didn’t want to betray Matilda.

  He frowned at me and didn’t reply. After a while of walking, I realized that I still had no idea where we were going, and I hoped that it had nothing to do with throngs of people. “Where are we headed?” I asked.

  “I don’t know,” Roland replied truthfully. “I figured we could just go on a walk.”

  I had to admit, it was nice to have nothing to do. We had an unexpected break in a time of turmoil.

  The ocean came into view again, but this time there were no docks. Just the beach. I was tempted to go put my feet in it, but the water would be freezing cold. Although the day was warmer than I was used to, it was still too cold for swimming. I sat down and kicked off my boots, sinking my toes into the sand. Roland sat down next to me and slung the bag from his shoulder.

  “And now for lunch.”

  I had forgotten about the food that Rema gave us. Roland pulled out the bread, cheese, and meat.

  I had already had bread today, so I reached for a piece of dried meat and started to chew on it. Nearby, a few seagulls landed, cautiously coming closer to see if we would give them anything. I tossed a piece of bread out for them, and they all raced at the same time to grab it, but only one was successful. He flew off a few feet until he had swallowed the whole thing.

  “You know what?” Roland asked.

  “What?”

  “You might’ve saved some people’s lives in that fire earlier.”

  “Why do you think that?” I questioned.

  “Nobody else drew their blade to cut a hole in the tent. They were all in a panicky state of mind… Including me.”

  I stared at the seagulls and shrugged. I ate a little more of the food, but I didn’t really feel hungry. The food was put away after Roland had had his fill. The bell chimed once. It didn’t seem like it was only one o’clock. It seemed like it should be three o’clock at least.

  I stood up and grabbed my boots. I would have to wait until we got off the beach before putting them back on, otherwise they would get sand all through them. Roland followed me. I retraced our steps back to the road, where I wiped my feet off and slid my boots on.

  “Let’s go back to the market,” I suggested. “We could get something to contribute to Matilda’s meal.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Roland said. “I think it would be much appreciated.”

  I let him take the lead, as I still didn’t know quite where I was going. Achron was the largest city I'd ever been to. I definitely wouldn’t be able to memorize the roads unless I lived here for a while.

  The market was surprisingly less crowded than it had been before. The fire-dancer’s tent had been burnt to the ground, and all that remained of it were ashes. Two men were already scooping them up into a wagon.

  Unlike in the village, most of the merchants stayed behind their stand and waited for their customers to come up, although some of them did advertise what they had by shouting it out to the crowd.

  “What should we get for her?” I asked Roland. He knew what she liked better than I did.

  “Well, all the times that I’ve eaten at her house, she only made a vegetable broth. Perhaps we should make a trip for the butcher’s shop and gift her with that.”

  I looked at him speculatively. “Is that what she wants or what you want?”

  He laughed. “Probably both.”

  “What about a pastry or something?” I asked.

  He considered this. “While that is a good idea, Matilda will probably make her own. She likes to bake.”

  “Fine,” I said sullenly. “Meat it is, then. But you’re going to carry it.”

  “Of course,” he said.

  We purchased a nice cut of beef at a butcher's shop and hurried to get it to Matilda so she could prepare it in time for dinner.

  Once we found her house again, Roland knocked on her door. She opened it in a hurry.

  “Oh, hello,” she said, smiling. “I didn't expect you back so soon.”

  “We hurried so we could get this to you,” he answered her, lifting the parcel in his hands. She seemed to notice it for the first time.

  “Oh, Roland, how thoughtful!” she said, taking the parcel. She brought it inside and we followed her, shutting the door behind us.

  “It wasn't me,” Roland said, taking a seat at the table as Matilda got out a cutting board and a knife.. “Ivy thought of the idea to give you a gift.”

  Matilda turned her smile to me. “Thank you very much. Burton will be especially thankful. 'A sailor needs to eat his protein', as he always says.”

  I blushed and sat next to Roland. “It is the least we could do for you, since you're feeding us dinner.”

  “Of course,” she answered.

  She sliced the meat into little pieces and put it into a pot of boiling broth. As she stirred it in, she said, “I was wondering...where are you and Ivy going to stay, Roland?”

  “I was thinking we might stay at The Dairymaid,” he said.

  She wrinkled her nose. “The Dairymaid? I've heard that their bedrooms are tiny and overpriced.”

  “Do you have any other suggestions?”

  “Yes,” she said, smiling. “You should stay here.”

  Roland shook his head. “I don't want to be any more of a burden then I've already been.”

  “Ha! You are not a burden,” Matilda scoffed. “Don't you know how lonely it's been with Burton out at sea and no one else here in the house?”

  We were all silent while Roland pondered this.

  I even surprised myself when I spoke up. “We'll be happy to stay, Matilda,” I said.

  Roland raised his eyebrows at me, but Matilda grinned from ear to ear. “Of course! Ivy will get the cot, but Roland, dear, we'll make you a comfortable pallet on the floor.”

  Roland sighed.

  Matilda laughed. “Don't worry. I have plenty of blankets, and a nice feather pillow we've just gotten with Burton's extra wages,” she added with a wink.

  I jumped when the door opened. Burton walked in, wiping his feet on the rug in front of the entryway.

  Matilda looked up at him. “It's about time that you came home. I can't entertain company and cook at the same time.”

  Burton looked up for the first time and noticed us. “So now you've come to bother my wife, eh, Roland?”

  Before Roland could answer, Matilda said, “Actually, I invited them in. They weren't even going to say hello to me. Can you believe that?”

  “I sure can!” Burton said jokingly. “I didn't even want to come inside myself.”

  Matilda scolded him.

  B
urton looked at me, and I fought the urge to shrink back. He smiled. “Well, I suppose we're officially friends now that you've been invited to my home.” He stuck out his hand. “So what's your name, lass?” he asked.

  We shook hands as I answered, “Ivy.”

  He seemed surprised at the name. He took me in more carefully, and looked at Matilda.

  Matilda nodded.

  Burton crossed his arms. “Or maybe we were already friends...”

  I looked over at Roland. He was glancing back and forth between me and Burton, his face contorted in confusion.

  I smiled warily at Burton. “Yes, perhaps a past life?”

  Burton chuckled. “No such thing,” he said.

  Matilda cleared her throat. “Dinner will be ready in a few hours, so h0w about you all play a game of cards before then?” she suggested, changing the subject.

  I was grateful for the diversion. Matilda went over to the bookcase and brought some out. I was hopelessly bad at the game, having never played cards before. Roland and Burton talked nonstop, occasionally bringing me into the conversation before continuing along with their endless banter.

  When dinner was finally ready, I helped her set the table. Right as I was about to dig in to the delicious smelling stew, Matilda said, “Burton, will you please say grace?”

  I hurriedly set my spoon back down, and took the outstretched hands of Burton and Roland. This wasn't something we did at the orphanage, but I'd seen people pray together in taverns.

  “Lord, we thank you for this food, we pray that you bless it and nourish it to our bodies. I thank you for the hands that made it,” Matilda squeezed his hand. “...and I thank you that we can have Roland and Ivy at our table today. Amen.”

  “Amen,” said Matilda, patting his hand, before picking up her spoon.

  I was thinking the entire time I ate, and too soon, the bowl was empty. I helped Matilda clean up afterward, and we pulled my cot out of a closet. Matilda went back to her bedroom and came out with three blankets. “It's probably going to be a cold night,” she said. “You'll need all of these.”

  “Thank you,” I replied as we laid out all the blankets on the cot.

  We laid down the last blanket, and Matilda sighed tiredly. “We'd better get to bed. Burton likes to leave early to get a head start on the day.”

  I sat down on the cot. She sat next to me and hugged me. “You are so like your mother,” she said. “Both quiet, both kind, and both beautiful.”

  I smiled and hugged her back. “Thank you,” I said.

  She stood up again, and made her way to her bedroom. “Goodnight,” she called back.

  “Good night,” I replied.

  As Matilda went into her room, Roland came out, his hands full of quilts and the one feather pillow that Matilda had promised. He laid them out on the floor a few paces away, near the wood stove.

  I slipped under the covers and faced away from him. I stayed up longer than I wanted, listening to see if Roland was asleep or not. When I at last heard his steady breathing, I was finally able to drift off.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  When I woke up, the bridge of my nose was throbbing from the accident the day before. The throbbing lessened a little as I woke up more. I heard voices talking behind me, at the table. Roland and Burton.

  “We won’t have any trouble with pirates will we?” asked Roland.

  “Not likely,” Burton answered. “Pirates like to stick to the southern coast of Pira, Onwin, and Leviatha. I’ve never heard of one coming as far as Kislow and definitely not Nalla.”

  “Then we have nothing to worry about?”

  “I wouldn’t say that. There are still the dangers of storms, but they don’t happen very often this time of year. In the spring, however, a sailor would be an idiot to go out into the open sea.”

  I threw off my covers and stretched. The cold, gray light of dawn shimmered through the frosted window.

  Burton looked over at me. “Hey, there, Roland! Your lass is up.”

  I made sure to glare at the statement—which resulted in a grin from Burton—before saying, “Are we going to be leaving soon?”

  “We were just about to wake you up, but you saved us the trouble. We’ll be leaving as soon as you’re ready.”

  I went over to the changing screen and changed back into my comfortable half-form clothes. I combed my fingers through my hair before I came back out.

  “I’m ready,” I said.

  “Then let’s go,” Burton replied.

  I didn’t take the first step before Matilda’s frantic voice came ringing from the other room. “Hang on a second! I’ve got something I want to give to Ivy!”

  Burton huffed in annoyance, and steered Roland toward the door. “We’ll be waitin’ outside,” he called to me.

  Matilda came out of the room holding something that was wrapped in a satin cloth. She pulled the fabric away, exposing a white case, which she opened. I gasped at what was inside. It was a necklace, but this necklace had a bird on it. A bird with flames.

  “It was your mother’s,” she said. “We went to your house after we heard of the fire, and found this in the remains. I don’t know why she had it. Perhaps she somehow already knew what you were.”

  I took the necklace in my hands just to stare at it. It was crafted so well for such a small little jewel. When I looked closely, I saw the carvings of the feathers.

  “I want you to take it with you, but you shouldn’t wear it. With your clothing and this necklace combined, people will start to assume things.”

  I nodded. My half-form outfit had pockets underneath the talon belt and I slipped it in there.

  Matilda hugged me one last time. “It’s so nice to know that a part of Olivia is alive and well…” She pulled back and smiled at me. “Keep it that way.”

  I returned her smile. “I will try.”

  She came with me to the door and watched as I started the walk with Roland and Burton to the docks. “Come back to visit!” she shouted.

  I looked back and waved. “I will!”

  Our walk was shorter than I wished it would’ve been. Although I was eager to get this quest over with, I had never sailed before, and I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I’ve heard of sailors in love with the briny deep only to be betrayed by their mistress. They sink and drown, and a few days or weeks later, you might find their body bloated on the sand. I didn’t want to be one of those bodies.

  Burton’s ship was docked out the furthest. I studied it as we walked up the ramp. It was old. It had survived many years, but it was well taken care of. Some of the others ships were filthy, but Burton’s ship was well-scrubbed. His sails were white and his ropes were new. One thing I did notice was the figurehead. It was a sea serpent like Roland. Or I should say that it had been. Most of its face had broken off and all that was left were its eyes.

  Burton’s yelling jerked my attention away from it. “Raise the anchor! Hoist the sails!”

  Several men snapped to attention and started running around to their positions. Roland went to help, and I started to follow, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

  “No, Ivy. You won’t be doing the men’s work,” Burton said. I was glad. I had no idea what I would be doing. “You can, however, help in the kitchen.” He gestured to the doors at the aft of the ship.

  I started toward them, but stopped to balance myself. I wasn’t used to the bobbing of the ship yet. I entered the doors and studied the room. Everything was put into order, just like it had been on the deck.

  A woman stood in front of a stove, stirring a boiling concoction. She looked up when I came in. “Another woman on board?” she said, beaming. She looked only a few years older than I. “This is something that doesn’t happen very often.”

  “Hello,” I said with a tentative smile.

  She switched the spoon to her left hand and extended her right one. “My name’s Sophia.”

  I came closer and shook her hand. “I’m Ivy.”

  “I’m
so glad you’re here!” she said excitedly. “You have no idea how hard it is for one person to make a meal for twenty people. And on a ship, no less.”

  “I don’t know much about cooking, but I hope that I can be of help,” I replied.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll give you the simpler tasks.”

  She set me down on a chair in front of three buckets. One had potatoes in it and the other two were empty. She placed a knife in my hand. “I'll leave you to figure out what to do,” she said with a smile.

  I nodded. Elna had done this very thing to me before. The peelings go in one bucket and the finished potatoes go in the other. Sophia rushed back to the pot to stir it.

  I sighed as I peeled the potato. The next few days would definitely test my patience. I wanted to just fly the whole way, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to cover that whole distance. Not safely, anyway.

  I found that I liked to work with Sophia. She was cheerful and energetic, and it took my mind off the motion of the ship.

  *****

  The next day, things got worse. I woke up with nausea and was barely able to think a complete thought. I went up on the decks to see if it would make me feel better, but the sea smelled especially fishy, or else my sickness picked up on that the most.

  My knees felt weak and my vision was foggy. Roland appeared in front of me. “Ivy, you don’t look so good. Your face is as white as a sheet.”

  I didn’t fully comprehend what he was saying. Instead, I raced to the edge of the ship as fast as my feeble legs could take me and spewed over the side. Roland caught me after I was done and lifted me in his arms. My head spun as he took me back below decks and into the bunk that I’d been given the day before.

  “Thank you,” I said faintly as he left.

  I wasn’t sure if he heard me. My eyes were already closed by then as I fell asleep.

  I faded in and out of consciousness. Someone had placed a bucket next to me and I must have used it at least two more times before I started to feel better. When I woke up once again, Sophia was sitting next to me. She had set a tray next to my bedside.